Corporate Style: Printed Dresses And Trench Coats For The Office

Easy corporate style for those 'I don't know what to wear' days, printed dresses! They are a great go-to outfit for any occasion, not just for office wear.

I picked these two dresses to wear as I felt it had been a while since I'd worn them.

What I wore:

Jacket: Temt black trench coat 

Cardi: Jeanswest Peggie kimono in purple mulberry marle
Scarf: Cotton On fuchsia pashmina
Dress: Jeanswest 'Melanie' paisley mixed print dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

It was little chilly in the morning, and this is quite a lightweight dress, so I added a purple cardi under my trench coat that you can kinda see peeking out in the first photo. Kept me warm at my desk too as the dress has short sleeves.

Hopefully I can re-create this look when the weather is warmer, without the trench coat as I really liked the cardigan and dress together. I thought the fuchsia pashmina complimented the purple well.


Last worn: black trench, pink pashmina, purple cardi, mixed print dress, ankle boots, Balenciaga tempete day bag.

Other ways to wear: trench coat and a pencil skirt, pashmina and a shift dress, purple cardi and jeans, dress in the third trimester, ankle boots and a maxi skirt, Balenciaga day bag and a maxi skirt.

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Shop more printed dresses at Shopbop:

Desk to drinks - printed dresses at Shopbop.

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What I wore:

Jacket: Barkins beige trench coat 

Dress: French Connection 'Fast Rhonda' dress in black/caramel
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs logo plaque flats in camel
Bag: Mulberry Bayswater in Oak NVT leather (previously owned bargain here)

Why I wore it:

A warmer day so less layers - just a trench over this dress. I didn't add a scarf, because I find this dress a little tricky to wear a scarf with. I don't have many plain scarves, most are printed! Could have done with a scarf to keep me warm in the early morning, but wasn't too bad without it.

It's been a while since I last wore this Mulberry Bayswater bag too! I wore it in March, on my first day back at work after maternity leave. Overall, I've only worn this bag 21 times in the past 3 and a half years (my blog archive is great for finding out info like this!). The leather is extremely sensitive to water, even after I've waterproofed it with the same product I use on all my bags. It tends to get worn mainly for the office. It's such a classic style that will never go out of date though, and some days you just want a formal bag like this for work, so that's why I've held onto it.

I've got a more detailed review of the Mulberry Bayswater on my youtube channel.

Last worn: beige trench, printed sheath dress, camel flats, Mulberry Bayswater tote.

Other ways to wear: trench with orange and burgundy, printed dress with a printed scarf, ballet flats with a boho dress, Bayswater and a baby bump.


Linking up with Let It Shine, Modest Monday, Style Sessions, Turning Heads, Confident Twosday, Wardrobe Wednesday, Whatcha Wearing, What I Wore today.



This post was created in partnership with Shopbop. Occasionally, Away From The Blue blog may receive vendor or brand sponsorships for mentioning their products or services. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own.

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Corporate Style: Prints, Pink and Blazers

With a quiet few days at work without a lot of meetings, I took the chance to try some new things to meet the challenges for the Fox in Flats style dares on instagram. I ended up with two outfits I was really happy with!

What I wore:

Jacket: Zara cream jersey blazer

Necklace: Tai gold alphabet necklace
Shirt: Choies pink chiffon shirt with strawberry print (C/O Choies)
Pants: Jeanswest 'Fiona' skinny leg pant in shiraz
Shoes: Wittner 'Mimi' heels in mushroom
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

I've always admired pink and burgundy on other people, I've seen it done really well, so wanted to give it a try myself! Of course we call it Marsala this year ;)

I've worn burgundy to work before (burgundy scarf, maroon dress) but when I saw this challenge I had a hard time trying to think of anything Marsala-toned that I could wear to work. I kept thinking of these pants. I've always thought of these pants more as skinny jeans. They aren't denim, but they are quite a slim fit. I think with the heels and the button up shirt and blazer they dressed up nicely for the office. I've had them 3 years and never once worn them to the office, not even for casual Friday.

This is my favourite outfit from the Fox in Flats style dares this time around - because I'd never thought of wearing these pants to the office before. Now I've tried it and loved it, I have a new way to wear them! It's good to find new ways to wear things in my wardrobe.


Last worn: cream blazer, strawberry print shirt, burgundy pants, Wittner heels, LV speedy bandouliere.

Other ways to wear: jersey blazer with a vintage skirt suit, casual summer shorts outfit with printed shirt, casual burgundy pants and iombre knit outfit, brown heels with flares, LV speedy with a chambray dress.

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Nadine 3/4 Sleeve dusky pink blazer
Scarf: Marc by Marc Jacobs Stargazer scarf in aquamarine (on sale!)
Necklace: House of Harlow Dynamic necklace in gold
Dress: French Connection blue Paisley print dress
Belt: Asos skinny boyfriend belt (tied in a double loop knot using this tutorial)
Shoes: Acne pistol boots in "skin"
Bracelets: the usual plus JORD black Fieldcrest wood watch (C/O)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy

Why I wore it:

the style challenge for the day was 'all tied up' so I took the chance to wear this blazer belted, as I've been wanting to do that for a while. I've worn this belt with the dress before, in summer, I really like the combination. I think that it looks better without the scarf for working in an office, but I wanted something to keep me cosy on the commute so I thought this scarf would be a nice mix of prints. After reviewing the photos I wasn't too sure about it, so I put the scarf away in my bag when I got to work.

This outfit is one I had in mind for wearing this dress after I was a little on the fence about it last time I wore it. I really liked the combination of the dress and blazer together, and so I'm going to keep the dress in my wardrobe still. Minus the scarf I felt comfortable and confident in this all day.


Last worn: blush pink blazer, MbMJ Stargazer scarf, tan belt, paisley print dress, Acne Pistol boots, Rebecca Minkoff navy MAB tote.

Other ways to wear: galaxy print scarf with stripes and purple, pastel blazer with denim shorts, scarf, paisley print dress in summer with blue and silver accessories, pistol boots with denim shorts, MAB tote with office outfits.

Linking up with WIW, Whatcha Wearing Wednesday, Style Me Weekly, What I Wore, I Feel Pretty, Oh Hey Girl, Trendy Wednesday, Style Me Wednesday, The Wednesday Pants, Throwback Thursday, Thursday Favourites, Brilliant Blog Posts, Look What I Got, Fun Fashion Friday, Fashion Friday today.

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Bright Tops and Different Denim - Skinny Jeans and Flares and May Purchases

A wrap-up of my May purchases and the second outfits with a couple of my April purchases, so some purchase reviews as well. I enjoy doing these. Wearing things twice in a month makes me think seriously about ways I can wear them before I buy, and reviewing how successful or unsuccessful I was at buying something I want to reach for in my wardrobe again and again is really giving me things to think about when I'm shopping.
I hope you're enjoying following along with my progress too! I recently did an interview with JORD watches where I talked about my goals and my shopping habits a little more. As well as gushing about baby T....

First up, May's purchases!

I planned to just get the handbag, but there were a few other things I couldn't resist! The 'fill a bag for $2' sale at the local op-shop (thrift store) means I have lots of new wardrobe additions!

• Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy
• Jeanswest Helene sleeveless textured shirt in berry
• Thrifted H&M purple floral shirt
• Thrifted valleygirl blue 3/4 sleeve tee
• Thrifted black Jeanswest maxi dress
• Thrifted JayJays teal paisley print maxi dress

And now, what I've been wearing.

What I wore:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers

Earrings: silver bird charm earrings (competition prize)
Necklace: Tai gold alphabet necklace layered with Dogeared 3 Wishes stardust bead necklace and Nibbly Bits Abacus necklace in pop
Shirt: Jeanswest Helene sleeveless textured shirt in berry (new purchase)
Jeans: Jeanswest prima denim super skinny jeans in absolute black
Shoes: Asos 'five star' leather sandals
Bracelets: the usual plus Disney Couture Winnie the Pooh bangle and silver tree charm bracelet (competition prize)
Bag: Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH

Why I wore it:

I'm so pleased to have this shirt at last! It's a new purchase and I have been looking forward to wearing it. A few months ago I tried it on in-store, and although it was 25% off, I decided to leave it and wait for a 40% off sale. Of course when the next 40% off sale rolled around, the top was sold out in my size online and in the couple of Jeanswest stores I checked. I was extremely pleased to see the last one in my size on the sale rack in the Brisbane city store when I went in to return something from an online order and decided to have a browse. I knew I had to have it! We were out for most of the day - lunch with my family and then dinner with DH's family, and this shirt was perfect. I just added a cardigan when we went out for dinner in the evening.
The rest of my outfit was coordinated with my sister for the 'dynamic duo' style challenge from the Fox in Flats style dare, with the black pants and Balenciaga bag.

Second time I've worn the black skinny jeans, so my purchase review:

I really like these! Just as much as the blue pair I have. I got these in the Jeanswest 40% off sale, and another pair of the regular skinnies. I wanted to replace my old black skinny jeans as I wasn't thrilled with the fit, so I donated them. I've been trying to be more critical and get rid of those jeans I have that just aren't right for me to reduce the size of my denim collection. Since that left me with no black denim in my wardrobe, I ordered two pairs to make my mind up between them.
I did think that it wouldn't make sense to have both a black and a blue pair of the prima denim jeans, both with the same zip detail...but these are the perfect length for me and the other black jeans I ordered I would have had to have taken up for my petite frame. So I decided to keep these instead of the plain ones, and I'm glad I did. I really like the prima denim range!


Last worn: Ray-ban Wayfarers, skinny jeans, leather sandals, Balenciaga part time bag. First time I've worn the top as it is a new purchase.

Other ways to wear: skinny jeans with pinstripe button down, leather sandals with denim shorts, Balenciaga part time with neutral outfits (and a baby bump!).

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What I wore:

Necklace: Roie Designs long freshwater pearl necklace with tassel

Top: French Connection black paisley printed empire top (with thrifted Cotton On yellow tank underneath)
Jeans: Jeanswest 'spoylt' flared jeans
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC with python embossed leather in aquamarine

Why I wore it:

This was a nice casual outfit for working from home and doing the day care drop off/pick up. I rediscovered this top when pregnant. Although I don't wear it much now, I used to wear it a lot. It never really looks great in pictures but I like wearing it so it is staying in my wardrobe.

The style challenge for the day was '70's situation' so like last time the 70's was a theme, I wore my flared jeans. Unlike the last time I wore these jeans, I enjoyed wearing them. Although the hem was really long worn with Converse and I did worry I'd trip up when holding baby T! I've taken the flares to the tailor now, I wear flats unless I'm in the office and so it doesn't make sense to keep these long enough to wear with heels, they will never get worn unless I shorten them.

It's the second time I've worn this top, so my purchase review:
I admit I was struggling to find a way to wear this tank twice within a month of buying it. It wouldn't have been so difficult if I had bought it earlier in the year when it was warmer. I bought it just as the weather started to cool, so layering it under tops is pretty much the only way I'll be able to wear it for the next few months of autumn and winter.
In saying that though, I'm glad I bought it, the yellow colour is so cheerful! I just hope it doesn't meet the same fate as all my other bright tanks that don't really get worn often. Perhaps buying something I already have a lot of wasn't a good idea, even if it is a really nice colour. I need to think a little harder about what I buy and be sure I really will wear it, not just think I'll wear it.


Last worn: paisley print empire waist top, yellow tank, flared jeans, Converse Chucks, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: printed empire waist top with skinny jeans, flared jeans with heels, mini MAC with a maxi dress.

Linking up with Fab Favourites, Casual Friday, Passion for Fashion, Budgeting Bloggers, Shoe and Tell today.

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Corporate Style: Colourful With French Connection Printed Dresses and Scarves

After I finished doing the two instagram style challenges at once, I was looking forward to not dressing for a theme. I wanted to wear some of my office wear that I hadn't worn in a long time, my printed French Connection dresses. The weather was a little cooler, so I layered up and added some scarves.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Dixie collarless jacket

Scarf: Cotton On turquoise pashmina
Dress: French Connection 'Fast Rhonda' dress in black/caramel
Shoes: Acne pistol boots in "skin"
Bracelets: the usual plus JORD black Fieldcrest wood watch (C/O)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey

Why I wore it:

I had decided in advance I wanted to wear this dress again, but as it's gotten a little cooler since then I had to add some layers. I thought that the print mixing with the dress and the blazer was a bit different, but looked okay, so I laid this out to wear the next day. As I woke up a little under the weather and I wanted to be cosy, at the last minute I added a scarf. Went with this plain one as I thought it was a nice colour with the orange in the dress, and I didn't want to add a third print to the mix.

I have three of these Cotton On pashminas. (Cotton On had them for $5 with any purchase for a while). I have a white one, a fuchsia pink one and this turquoise one. I can find the last time I wore the white one and the pink one, but not the last time I wore this one. I wonder if I really haven't worn it in the 3 years I've been blogging, or if I just tagged it incorrectly so I can't find it in my archives! No real reason why I haven't worn it more often, it's a great colour and being a nice basic scarf it will work with a lot of prints. I re-discovered it during my wardrobe detox, expect to see it again!

I've had this dress for years, even before the blog. It's been a year and a half since I last wore it though! It's definitely one of those office-only pieces in my wardrobe, and with it being so slim fitting I didn't get a chance to wear it during my pregnancy. I worried it showed off the developing baby bump in the first trimester, and by the second trimester, when I had stopped hiding the pregnancy at work, I couldn't even zip it up. It's good to be back wearing it again now, even if it does fit a little snugger around my belly than it did pre-baby ;)


Last worn: tweed blazer, French Connection sheath dress, orange wool jumper, Acne Pistol boots, Rebecca Minkoff grey MAM bag. First time I've worn this scarf on the blog.

Other ways to wear: tweed blazer with printed top for travel, dark floral print dress in summer, pistol boots with denim shorts, Rebecca Minkoff grey MAM with wrap dresses and a baby bump.

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What I wore:

Scarf: Nali feather print pashmina scarf

Jumper: vintage David Jones orange wool knit jumper from AWLQ vintage sale
Dress: French Connection 'Woodblock wonder' panache dress in white/geranium rose
Shoes: Wittner 'Lumen' heel in patent leather
Bracelets: the usual plus JORD black Fieldcrest wood watch (C/O)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey

Why I wore it:

This printed dress isn't as snug a fit as the one above, so I did get away with wearing it to the office in the first trimester, using the print to distract from the tiny little baby bump. I didn't wear this dress on my maternity leave either, I like this dress and it's definitely more forgiving than the one above, I could have fit into it earlier, but I'm happy to have it as an office-only piece as well.

Again, I had made up my mind that I wanted to wear this dress before I got sick. I was determined to still make it work though! I've worn this dress with a jumper over the top before, so thought that was the best way to go to keep my chest warm, instead of adding a coat and having to fiddle with lots of buttons. I added the scarf as yet another layer as I was beginning to lose my voice and wanted to keep my neck warm.

Beth pointed out on instagram that it was a very Queensland look - layered up on top but bare legs! I didn't think it was that cold in the morning to need to cover up my legs, but by the end of the day I was wishing I'd worn tights or pants. It was really chilly in the evening on the way home from work, as the stormy and wet weather started to set in.


Last worn: feather print pashmina, orange wool jumper, French Connection orange print dress, nude patent heels, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag (above).

Other ways to wear: feather print pashmina with polka dot dress, wool jumper with skinny jeans, orange print dress in summer, nude heels with a monochrome blue outfit, grey handbag with a neutral outfit in the third trimester.

Linking up with Whatcha Wearing, What I Wore, WIW, Style Me Weekly, Get Your Pretty On, Oh Hey Girl, Trendy Wednesday, The Wednesday Pants, Thursday Fashion Files, Throwback Thursday, Look What I Got, What I Wore to Work, Fun Fashion Friday today.

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Rebecca Minkoff Aquamarine Mini MAC Bag: Maxi Dress for Dinner, Denim Shorts for Errands

Two more outfits accessorised with my Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC bag in aquamarine. And a special giveaway for my US readers! I wear this bag a lot, it's my go-to for weekends when I want to add some colour to an outfit, and it looks good with everything, from a maxi dress to denim shorts. While I do have a lot of scarves, and after my last handbag clearout on ebay I have more scarves than handbags, I think handbags are the best accessory to invest in. If you take good care of them, they can last years. I bought this bag back in 2012, and while it doesn't look as pristine as it did then it's still looking really good! Definitely a wise purchase.

What I wore:

Sunnies: Rayban new Wayfarers

Necklace: Roie Designs pearl and antique gold long necklace layered with Roie Designs long freshwater pearl necklace with tassel
Dress: Jeanswest 'Elodie' tie dye grey jersey maxi dress
Shoes: Asos 'five star' leather sandals
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC with python embossed leather in aquamarine

Why I wore it:

I used this outfit as the one I posted to Instagram for the 'I'm loving this look' prompt for the Fox Pack Style Dare outfit challenge, even though I'd worn it the weekend before the challenge started. The day of the challenge was a much needed stay at home looking after baby in pyjamas day. I still have pyjama days.
Hard to believe I once thought about getting rid of this dress! I was a bit happier to let things go from my wardrobe when I was pregnant though, I had to turn my walk in wardrobe room into baby's nursery so a big downsize was needed! Glad I kept it, it really is insanely comfortable. And I like it with this mini MAC bag, have worn that combination before.

This dress was good for a quiet day at home with DH, and then a family birthday BBQ in the evening. I wasn't sure what necklace to wear with this, and was trying a few on when I realised these two looked pretty good layered together! :) Baby T wasn't too grabby either so I managed to keep them on the whole day.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarers, tie dye maxi dress, Asos leather sandals, Rebecca Minkoff aquamarine mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: maxi dress on Christmas day, pink sandals with a red bag, aqua bag with a navy tunic dress.

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What I wore:

Sunnies: Rayban new Wayfarers

Scarf: Jeanswest tri-colour dip dye scarf
Tee: French Connection oversized khaki green tee
Shorts: Jeanswest black denim cuff shorts
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC with python embossed leather in aquamarine

Why I wore it:

The style challenge for the day was 'khaki', so I wore my khaki tee. I don't really have a lot of this colour (or any greens) in my wardrobe. I've mostly wear this tee with blue denim, so thought I'd be a little different and wear it with my black denim shorts instead. I thought the scarf added a nice bit of colour, along with the mini MAC bag.

The pairing of the scarf and tee together is actually something that the personal stylist came up with during my wardrobe detox. I think it works really well! :) Certainly was a hit on Instagram with the other people participating in the style challenge.


Last worn: khaki tee, dip dye scarf, denim shorts, Converse, mini MAC bag (above).

Other ways to wear: ombre scarf with trench in winter, khaki tee with skinny jeans, aqua bag with a colourful printed tee dress.

As promised, I am hosting a special giveaway for US readers! Unfortunately it is US only at this time, apologies to my Aussie and international readers. I had the chance to share it with you all and thought I would even if it don't apply to everyone. It's a chance to win a Microsoft Surface tablet, thanks to the Mom's Affiliate network that I am a part of.


Note that this giveaway is only hosted on my blog, it is administered and run via Moms Affiliate. I have no input into the competition, other than providing you with a chance to enter. Details are on the post here, or you can fill in the entry form below. Good luck!


Linking up with Styled Up, Let It Shine, Shoe & Tell, Style to Inspire, Mix It Monday, Celebrate Southern, More Pieces of Me, Daily Express, Real Mom Style, Reasons To Dress, Turning Heads Tuesday, Style Sessions, What I Wore, Spotlight Weekly today.

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Corporate Style: Colourful Office Wear with Mulberry Alexa Bag

After my awesome wardrobe detox session with a personal stylist, I've been looking at my wardrobe differently. It's given me some more outfit ideas for old favourites, and a reason to re-wear some pieces that haven't been worn in a while. It's definitely generated a lot of inspiration for me with my wardrobe! Below are two outfits where I tried different things for my office wear. Quite colourful too with the pinks and blues and my lilac Mulberry Alexa bag.

What I wore:

Cardigan: Jeanswest black cardi

Necklace: House of Harlow sunburst necklace in silver and grey
Tank: Asos satin singlet in pink
Skirt: French Connection 'Abby' twisted skirt
Shoes: Wittner 'Bolla' black bow detail flats
Bracelets: the usual plus JORD black Fieldcrest wood watch (C/O)
Bag: Mulberry regular Alexa bag in foggy grey

Why I wore it:

I had wanted to wear this pretty skirt to the office again, after last time I wore it when I was finding it tricky to wear casually outside of the office. Pencil skirts are not the most practical or comfortable choice for life at home with baby! Good for the office though. I wasn't sure what to wear it with when I saw the tank and remembered that when Maudie did my wardrobe detox, she loved this top. And I do too! I've always wanted to find more like it, but have never had any luck. It's something that's been on my wishlist for a while, I keep looking for similar pieces. So easy to dress up or dress down, it goes with everything. And even hides a second trimester baby bump!

Kept the outfit simple and comfortable with flats - the skirt is quite clingy so I wasn't comfortable adding heels into the mix. Good for a fairly meeting-free day in the office.


Last worn: black cardigan, pink satin singlet, French Connection stripe skirt, black flats, Mulberry Alexa bag.

Other ways to wear: black cardigan with a printed top, pink singlet hiding a second trimester baby bump in the office, striped skirt for second trimester office wear, black flats with a black maxi dress, foggy grey Mulberry Alexa with a black outfit.

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Cassandra jacquard jacket (new purchase)

Necklace: custom Cooper charm by Silhoupette
Dress: French Connection blue Paisley print dress
Boots: Acne pistol boots in "skin"
Bag: Mulberry regular Alexa bag in foggy grey

Why I wore it:

This dress was something I was thinking about donating, but I wasn't completely sure. It was one of my first dress purchases specifically for the office, back when I had just started my current job. Lots of fond memories. During my wardrobe detox Maudie wasn't overly impressed with the dress on me, but we spoke about it for a while and now I have a few different ideas for how to wear it. I won't let it leave my wardrobe just yet, although it definitely will be leaving at some point.

Was a little on the fence with this outfit though! I wanted to wear my new jacket and I tried on a few ideas in front of the mirror the night before, wasn't sure about the textured jacket with the printed dress...maybe a little too busy. In the end I couldn't make up my mind and decided I should just give the combination a go. I always tend to think my first few autumn layering outfits look a little off, takes me a while to get back into the layering mindset after the hot and humid Brisbane summers! Fashion is all about fun anyway, and it doesn't really matter if the outfits work or don't work I still get a chance to try again the next day! :)

One thing I did notice fairly quickly is that this jacket is not as ideal for the office as I hoped it would be. It's got zipper details on the sleeves, which are cute, but the zipper pulls are not the best when typing at a keyboard! So much noise...had to take the jacket off while I was at my desk. Something I hadn't thought about when I bought it! I like the mix of gold and silver thread through it though. Hoping the weather continues to cool so I can wear it more often.



Last worn: Paisley print sheath dress, Acne Pistol boots, Mulberry Alexa (above). First time I've worn the boucle jacket.

Other ways to wear: blue paisley print dress with pink accessories, Mulberry foggy grey Alexa with lilac and grey outfit.

Linking up with WIW, Because Shanna Said So, Whatcha Wearing Wednesday, Style Me Weekly, What I Wore, Get Your Pretty On, Oh Hey Girl, Style Me Wednesday, Trendy Wednesday, The Wednesday Pants, Throwback Thursday, Thursday Fashion Files, Spotlight Weekly, Fun Fashion Friday, Fab Favourites today.

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Blush Pink Boyfriend Blazer. With Striped Tank and Shorts, LBD and Heels for the Office

As part of my shopping in March, I crossed an item off my want list, a pastel pink blazer! I was really excited to find one at a good price in the outlets, and excited to wear it. I'm worried it was a case of something looking great in the change room and not working when you get it home as neither of these outfits are really striking me as great outfits...sharing them anyway.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Nadine 3/4 Sleeve dusky pink blazer (new purchase)

Necklace: House of Harlow sunburst necklace in silver and grey
Tank: AT By Atmos&Here Orion stripe tank
Shorts: Jeanswest printed denim shorts
Shoes: Asos 'five star' leather sandals
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere (with Coach feather bag charm)

Why I wore it:

I was excited for a slightly cooler day so I could wear my new blazer! I really wanted to wear this with jeans but despite the rain it was extremely humid, so shorts it was.

Thought this dressed up a shorts and tank outfit nicely, although it does look a little odd in the photos. I think it's the length of the shorts and the blazer not working well together. We went out for lunch and a little bit of shopping.


Last worn: stripe tank, printed shorts, leather sandals, Louis Vuitton Speedy bandouliere. First time I've worn the blazer.

Other ways to wear: striped tank and paisley print skirt, printed shorts in summer, sandals with dresses, speedy bandouliere with skirts.

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Nadine 3/4 Sleeve dusky pink blazer (new purchase)

Scarf: Paris print silk scarf
Necklace: custom Cooper charm by Silhoupette
Dress: French Connection fitted little black dress
Shoes: Wittner 'Bloomy' black heels
Bag: Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH

Why I wore it:

Firstly, let me say that I know this outfit would have looked better without a headband. With running late, only having a few hours sleep, having a bad hair day and not having hair long enough to tie back, I had to go for a quick fix and settled on the scarf. Probably looked a little out of place in the office. I had one colleague tell me I "looked very 1930s". I just said thanks and that I'd take it as a compliment! It had been a tough night with an unsettled baby so I was more impressed I made it to work on time and less worried about the overall outfit.

Last time I wore this dress I was using the cut to disguise what I thought was a very visible first trimester baby bump. It has a little gathered section under the fitted waistband that's quite flattering and hides a slightly protruding belly! Works post-baby too ;)


I'm trying to review all my new purchases on the blog, to encourage myself to style things differently when I buy them and think about how they will work in my wardrobe, to make sure I'm not buying things that will just sit in my wardrobe unworn and adding to my overflowing closet. You can read more about why I'm doing this here.


As it's the second time I've worn this blazer, my purchase review:

This blazer is something I've been wanting for a while! It's a cute dusty pastel pink, and after seeing all the northern hemisphere bloggers with their pastel pink coats for winter I thought I'd buy into the trend for autumn. Don't really need a wool coat in Brisbane, a blazer will do. When I tried it on in store I tried it with a pair of skinny jeans and thought it looked good. A little creased and crumpled, but I reasoned that as it was spring stock it was bound to get a little creased from being in the outlet a few months. After wearing it once above, I quickly realised it was the material itself - it creases so easy. And dry clean only is not ideal for life with baby! Pastel pink is not the best colour on me (I now know after my personal stylist session), and the long-line boyfriend style length is not great on a petite frame.

However, I'm keeping this jacket. I really want to make it work! Even if I do have to iron it constantly, and neither of these are my favourite outfits. I know that when the cooler weather eventually comes to Brisbane (still in shorts in Autumn!) I will be able to wear it with jeans. And I could try belting it too, and wearing it with brighter scarves and tops to balance out the paler blazer. What do you think? How else would you style this blazer? Or should I just cut my losses and admit I was too overexcited by finding a pastel pink blazer to consider how it really looks on me?


Last worn: pastel blazer (above), French Connection LBD, black heels, Balenciaga Part Time.

Other ways to wear: black headscarf with black maxi dress, belted cardi over a LBD, ankle strap heels for a night out, black bag with grey outfits.

Linking up with Styled Up, Let It Shine, Style to Inspire, Mix It Mondays, Manic Mondays, Real Mom Style, Style Sessions, Confident Twosday, What I Wore, Wardrobe Wednesday today.

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